Portsmouth New Hampshire Personal Injury Law Blog

Even if you do your best to avoid heavy traffic, you know there will be times when you're in traffic that comes to a complete stop. As frustrating as it may be, you must keep your cool and consider the steps you can take to maintain a high level of safety.

Be a defensive driver: Defensive drivers are less likely to be part of an accident, as every decision they make is based on safety. Conversely, aggressive drivers are more likely to make poor decisions, which puts them and other drivers in danger.

Leave more space: Always leave extra space between your vehicle and the one in front of yours. This gives you additional time to stop, such as if traffic suddenly comes to a halt. If you're only a few inches away from the vehicle in front of yours, there's little to no time to react.

Keep your attention on the road: Slow traffic doesn't mean you should search for ways to pass the time. Don't eat or drink. Don't talk on the phone. Don't send a text message or check your email.

It's not always easy to maintain your focus when driving, but it's a necessity if you want to remain safe.

Distracted driving is responsible for thousands of accidents, deaths and injuries every year. Here are three tips you can follow to avoid distracted driving:

Never use your cellphone when driving. This is rule number one, as cellphone use while driving remains a major problem throughout the country. Keep your phone out of reach, as this will prevent you from using it while your car is in motion.

Don't let passengers distract you. It's okay to drive with other people in your vehicle, but let them know that you must pay attention to the road. You can also protect against trouble by limiting the number of passengers.

Don't eat or drink while driving. It sounds like a harmless way to save time and better enjoy your ride, but it requires that you take at least one hand off the wheel. Not to mention the fact that you may also have to take your eyes off the road.

Choose the right ladder for the job: From the size to the strength to the material, you must choose the right ladder for the job you're tackling.

Don't use a damaged ladder: Ladders don't last forever, so make sure you inspect it thoroughly before taking your first step.

Set the ladder on firm and level ground: Seek out firm and level ground to ensure that the ladder is stable. Also, don't prop up items under the legs of the ladder to level the ground.

Don't carry a heavy load up or down a ladder: This increases the risk of losing your balance and falling to the ground below.

Don't set the ladder next to traffic: For example, setting a ladder next to a door could lead to an unsuspecting worker or pedestrian bumping into it. The same holds true if you set the ladder close to vehicular traffic.

A crush injury occurs when an extreme amount of pressure is put on a body part, such as a foot or hand. This typically occurs when the body part is squeezed between two objects, such as a motor vehicle and wall.

There are not many cars still on American roads that do not have seat belts installed. Nearly all of them are all-terrain vehicles or other special use vehicles. Seat belts are generally considered a lifesaving device, although people in the Granite State have the option of not using them.

When a person or family gets a dog, the children may be fixated on the new personality in their home. However, adults are thinking of the new responsibilities they picked up along with the new pooch. There is training to complete and toys, food, equipment and more to buy. Leashes and perhaps muzzles are early purchases, because people are responsible for the behavior of their dog.

When a dog bite or attack is severe or even fatal, it may make the local news. However, dog bites occur all of the time for which the owner may be liable civilly and possibly even criminally.

Companies from all over the world come to New Hampshire for the expertise and can-do attitude of its workers. Everything from ships to buttons have been manufactured in the Granite State, and many products and services continue that tradition. One of the things that keeps workers happy and productive is the promise of care in the event of an injury or illness on the job.

Workers' compensation benefits are one of the primary factors in making sure workers can live comfortably through recovery or get care in the event of a permanent disability. Workers' compensation insurance is relatively low in New Hampshire, so businesses can generally afford to make sure benefits are available in the case of a serious accident.

On behalf of Boynton, Waldron, Doleac, Woodman & Scott, P.A. posted in Wrongful Death on Friday, June 14, 2019.

Society at large finds it just as difficult to deal with the consequences of unexpected losses of life as the families of individual victims. The criminal court system is there to help guide who to punish objectively and rehabilitate them effectively. But their actions are often small comfort to the relatives and friends of people who died before their time.

The civil court system helps these people claim damages to help cope with the economic or emotional losses brought by death. Even if criminal actions did not occur, a civil court in New Hampshire may decide that a person or an organization showed negligence or other liability, which warrants damages.

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The attorneys at Boynton, Waldron, Doleac, Woodman & Scott, P.A., in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, represent clients in New Hampshire, Maine and northern Massachusetts, including the cities of Portsmouth, Rye, Hampton, Dover, Rochester, Manchester, Nashua, Somersworth, Concord, Laconia, Keene, Plymouth and other communities in Rockingham County, Strafford County, Hillsborough County, Merrimack County, Belknap County, Carroll County, Cheshire County, Coos County, Grafton County and Sullivan County, Kittery, York County, Cumberland County, Essex County, Suffolk County and Middlesex County.